PANAJI: The Goa State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (GSCDRC) – the highest consumer court in the state – operates from an office which is situated in an unsafe Junta House building in city.
Given the lack of space in the rented space in the fourth floor of Junta House, and the huge pendency of cases, the state consumer redressal commission headed by Justice UV Bakre is crying for better infrastructure which is required for effective functioning.
The court hall is spacious but there is no waiting room for the advocates to sit and discuss the matters as a result they stand along the corridor leaving little space for movement of the staff. The commission is struggling with rat population going out of control so much so that rodents nibble on important documents. Due to lack of space to maintain records, the registries have become severely congested with older records. Rats are also feeding on the files. Moreover there is no space to keep all important papers in metal almirahs.
The elevator is not functioning for almost a year now as a result complainants and the staff members are forced to climb four floors.
Till date, over 110 cases are pending with the commission and the number is only increasing thanks to the staff crunch. “It is very difficult to function in such a small space. Due to poor infrastructure and the ongoing staff crunch, out of the 736 cases filed since 2011, 111 cases are pending before the state commission,” said an officer of the commission.
According to the rule laid down by the National Commission, for smooth functioning, the state commission is supposed to have 5,000 sq ft space and sufficient number of staff but the present premise is small and the commission lacks junior stenos which have added to the woes.
An official of civil supplies and consumer affairs department said that there are plans to construct independent building dedicated to consumer courts in Porvorim. “We had proposed the construction of new building to shift North Goa district consumer forum including state commission and head office of civil supplies and consumer affairs department to a 6500 sq mts space available near new market proposed in Porvorim, the official said.
The department had sought 2000 sq mts of land for the construction of an independent building under 100 per cent central fund. He said that the government in 2013 had approved the proposal but the land is not yet allotted to the department.
Under the 12th five-year national action plan scheme of ‘Strengthening Consumer Fora’ (SCF), financial assistance is provided to the states/union territories for strengthening infrastructure of building as well as non-building assets. It provides financial assistance of Rs 24 crore to further strengthen the infrastructure of the consumer fora.
